Child Labor: The Perspective from Malaysia

Child labor is a heavy issue that continues to grow and affects more than ten million children each day. These children, mostly girls, are subjected to abuse, health risks, and violence. As far as the history of child labor throughout the world is concerned, it appears fairly simple. Child labor has existed for millennia, and although it has morphed with new technologies and growing industries, the nature remains the same. For the World Day Against Child Labor in 2004, the new International Labor Office (ILO) recounted this ongoing struggle, stressing that the current state of child labor does not look promising and that something must be done. ILO Director-General Juan Somavia remarked, “Millions of children work night and day outside of their family homes, toiling as domestic child labourers. Nearly all are exploited, exposed to hazardous work and subject to abuse this must stop now.” Unfortunately, the statistics continue to rise as the abuse persists. The February 27, 2004 United States Department of State’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Malaysia suggest that this Southeast Asian country is looking to change the fate of children, both within their country and throughout the world.

The Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act of Malaysia prohibits the employment of children younger than the age of 14. The Act permits some exceptions, such as light work in a family enterprise, work in public entertainment, work performed for the Government in a school or in training institutions, or work as an approved apprentice. Malaysia’s government regulates that in no case may children work more than 6 hours per day, more than 6 days per week, or, at night. Although Malaysia has made many efforts, such as this Act, to lessen the amount of child labor that occurs within their country, they still have not completely succeeded in enforcing it. Malaysia still finds that there can be no reliable estimate of the number of child workers, and, therefore, the extent of needed regulations is unknown. Where the confusion lies is in Malaysia most child laborers worked informally in the plantation sector, helping their parents in the field. In these cases, only the adult members of the family received a wage. Lower and Middle class Malaysian families have, for a long time, assumed that this labor was not considered abusive, and have relied on it for the prosperity of their business. In comparison, child labor in urban areas could be found in family food businesses, night markets, and small-scale industries. Malaysian Government officials struggle while they do not deny the existence of child labor in family businesses. They simply remain hopeful that foreign workers will increasingly replace child labor and that, with new, vigorously enforced child labor provisions, strides will be made.

The delegation from Malaysia recommends that a solution be implemented that is centered on NGO efforts. The NGO’s would perform detailed surveys on where child labor is the largest problem with a focus on domestic child labor, which is often overlooked and unaccounted for. These NGO surveys would take place mainly in the “hot-spots” where child labor occurs- South Africa, Jakarta, Indonesia, West Africa, Central America, and select parts of Asia. In addition to NGO surveys targeting these “hidden” cases of child labor, new opportunities will be offered for underprivileged children. A UN committee will be instated comprised of volunteers who will be responsible for setting up free, community secondary schools in both rural and urban settings where enrollment will be based on the financial situation of the family. This will act as an incentive for impoverished families so that they might opt to allow their children to continue their education. Children will no longer bear the stress of having to work unnecessarily long and vigorous hours to support themselves going to school. Not only will this assist in the development of underprivileged children, it will also aide in the effort to lessen child labor. This is a considerably effective solution because it allows for more doors of opportunity and prosperity to open up for the future of the world.